Home > Encyclopedia of Cancer > Paget's Disease of the Breast

Definition

Paget's disease of the breast is a rare type of breast cancer that is characterized by a red, scaly lesion on the nipple and surrounding tissue (areola).

Description

Paget's disease of the breast, also called mammary Paget's disease, is a rare breast condition that is often associated with underlying breast cancer. It is believed that Paget's disease of the breast occurs when invasive carcinoma or intraductal carcinoma (cancer of the milk ducts) spreads through the milk ducts to the nipple.

Although in most cases the underlying breast cancer is...